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Giants fall to Ravens

By David Ginsburg, Associated Press

Posted:
12/24/2012 12:58:26 AM EST

Updated:
12/24/2012 12:58:40 AM EST

BALTIMORE -- A celebration four weeks in the making featured laughs and hugs, a surprise appearance by team owner Steve Bisciotti and the distribution of hats announcing the Baltimore Ravens' stature as AFC North champions.

Joe Flacco threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, and the Ravens defeated the New York Giants 33-14 Sunday to end a three-game losing streak to secure their second straight division crown.

The Ravens (10-5) led 24-7 at halftime and cruised behind a short-handed defense that harassed quarterback Eli Manning and limited New York to 186 yards.

Playing its second game with Jim Caldwell as offensive coordinator, Baltimore scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and amassed a season-high 533 yards -- 289 in the first half alone.

"It's about execution, man. It's a simple word, but it's a very tough task to do," said running back Ray Rice, who ran for 107 yards and caught six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. "This was a championship game for us."

After ending their longest losing streak since 2009, the Ravens are assured a home playoff game on the first weekend of January.

"We know what's at stake. We want the AFC championship and it starts tonight," safety James Ihedigbo said. "We're not looking at regular season. Playoffs started for us and we're going to keep on playing.

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The defeat eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Giants (8-7) from contention in the NFC East and severely damaged their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

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